In order to negotiate and establish a contract successfully, you need to know the contractor you’re dealing with.

You obviously need to know everything there is to know about the project itself, but you need to know some information about your contractor as well. This shows that you’re taking the responsibility to establish a contract seriously, which can make them more motivated to negotiate.

You also have to speak to multiple contractors to establish and negotiate a contract. If you limit yourself to only one contractor, you have zero leverage when it comes to negotiating the finer details. Research and speak with as many contractors as you can, or whoever you feel is qualified to undertake your project. Even if you have one in mind that you absolutely want to work with, have numbers on your side makes it easier to negotiate.

Treat the contractors you speak with as allies, not competitors. If you treat a contractor as your enemy during negotiations, then you’ve already established a relationship on bad terms. You’ll be working with this contractor for the duration of your project, and perhaps even more so. Treat them with respect and as if you were on the same team, because you are.

Regard Yakou has been very successful in the past when it comes to establishing contracts.

Regard Yakou is an experienced construction project manager who has plied his trade all over the world, working for global companies in the Americas, Middle East and Africa in the process.

Before you can consider expanding your business so that it becomes a global endeavor you need to understand how to appeal to international customers. The following are some useful tips that you should try to keep in mind.

Consider Your Domestic Model

Your current domestic model should act as the foundation of the model you introduce into international territories. After all, it is what has allowed you to experience success so far. However, it is important that you build on this model by taking the specific needs of international clients and the cultural differences that you will face into account.

Pick The Right Product

Most businesses that harbor aspirations of going global tend to have a number of product offerings, so it is vital that they select the ones that will most appeal to their new clientele. Again, this comes back to the point of understanding the territory that you wish to expand into. Launching with the wrong product can be disastrous, as it results in a poor reputation being built that you may not be able to salvage with more desirable products.

Employ The Right People

If you are stretching beyond your domestic comfort zone, it is crucial that the people you hire have experience of working in the territories that you aim to expand into, as they can provide guidance that informs your business plans.

Regard Yakou has over 27 years of experience in international strategic management.

Regard Yakou, a highly experienced construction company president and manager, is an expert at dispute resolution within his industry. One method of dispute resolution in construction is the process of arbitration, which often involves a neutral arbitration group assessing the disagreement between a contractor and an owner, and presenting a legally binding final solution to the issue.

Arbitration has four different tracks: fast, regular, document submission, and complex. In the majority of cases, the amount of money being disputed will determine the most effective arbitration track to use.

The fast track is used in cases where the amount at the center of the disagreement is less than $75,000. This track is designed to save time and cost in the arbitration process, being completed within two months at the most. The regular arbitration track covers disputes involving costs from the $75,000 to $1 million range and is not as quickly designed a process as the fast track option.

Prominent, experienced construction presidents and managers, like Regard Yakou of Contraco, are also familiar with the document submission track. This option provides no hearing, and the decision is determined by one arbitrator who bases his or her decision on the relevant documents and written arguments that have been submitted to the process.

Finally, the larger complex dispute is reserved for arguments involving costs of over $1 million dollars. This style of arbitration looks like a traditional court case with the group of arbitrators issuing a written decision to end the dispute. Unlike court cases, no appeal is granted in this form of arbitration.

Many prominent and experienced construction businessmen, like Regard Yakou of Contraco, have multiple degrees in their field of study, including a degree in environmental engineering.

This field of engineering focuses on improving environmental quality and protecting the environment and those within it from stressors like pollution. Environmental engineers often concern themselves with improving aspects like recycling, water and air pollution control, waste disposal, and public health.

Environmental engineers are highly knowledgeable in the areas of biology, earth sciences, chemistry, and all aspects of engineering; they use all of these factors in their drive to find solutions for environmental issues.

The main focus for environmental engineers is to prevent dangerous biological and chemical contaminants from being released into the water, air, and soil. These engineers must also be able to identify existing pollutants and finding where they came from. This is often a significant difficulty, as there may be multiple sources from which the pollutant developed and spread.

Regard Yakou and other prominent construction moguls who have earned environmental engineering degrees, have also garnered significant experience in this role.

Environmental engineers are not only responsible for identifying pollutants and their source(s), but also for slowing down or stopping the contamination itself. This responsibility is a weighty one, thus an environmental engineer should also have knowledge of chemical engineering and fluid dynamics.

Because of the legalities that are involved in contaminated sites, these engineers need to be aware of environmental laws and litigation; many environmental engineers are also practicing attorneys so they remain aware of the current laws and standards that may apply to the case they are working on.

Many successful businessmen, like Regard Yakou of Contraco, a building and infrastructure company in Qatar, know the value that having a degree in international business can have when dealing with global companies. College degrees are considered valuable and a sign of veracity amongst international businesses, and can be the difference between gaining a sale, contract, or business partner.

Regard Yakou

An international business degree goes beyond the standard business courses by training individuals to become experienced in core business elements like marketing, management, economics, and business law, but on an international level.

Students learn policy analysis and examine case studies that will prepare them for global management roles in the future.

This training allows the student to learn cultural sensitivities and customs, as well as an understanding of current world affairs while gaining universally recognized academic credentials. The international business degree can be achieved in traditional on-campus methods, or in the increasingly popular online courses and programs.

Regard Yakou and other prominent international businessmen and women have amplified their reputations by working toward and earning an international business degree. Pursuing this degree is a long-term commitment that is accompanied by a frequent need for continuing education about economic, political, and social issues facing different countries around the world.

The individual in this field of study must be prepared for unusual, sometime lengthy hours and some travel. While most graduates can find entry-level positions, they can also, depending on their specialized area of study, earn high salaries, especially in construction, defense, oilfield equipment, and maritime shipping.